Berkeley Mob Riots After Being Turned Away at Fraternity Dance
A mob of about 500 smashed shop windows and looted clothing stores Saturday night along Telegraph Avenue after several hundred people were turned away from a sold-out fraternity dance.
Police arrested three adults and two juveniles on charges of rioting, looting, possession of stolen goods and resisting arrest.
The rioting began, police said, when about 200 to 300 people waiting to enter the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity-sponsored event began pounding on the closed doors outside the Pauley ballroom on campus. The event was open to the public but was sold out.
Campus police dispersed the crowd, which then grew larger. Most were not Berkeley students, a campus spokesperson said.
Some threw rocks and bottles at Berkeley police. Three people suffered minor injuries during fights that broke out in the crowd.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
